Quick & Easy Crispy Potatoes

Crispy Potatoes served with Eggs & Bacon

Crispy Potatoes served with Eggs & Bacon

Ingredients:
1.5 lb. Baby Red Potatoes, washed (unpeeled)
1 Tbsp. Coconut Oil (I used extra virgin)
1 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Garlic Powder
Dash Oregano Flakes

Process:
1. Wash and dry potatoes but do not peel. Cut them into more or less uniform size pieces, which for me was into halves and thirds depending on the size of each potato.
2. Place the potato pieces along with all remaining ingredients in a bowl. No need to stir just yet. Microwave on HIGH for 5-7 minutes depending on the strength of your microwave.
3. While the potatoes cook, preheat over to 400 degrees (Fahrenheit), and spray a cookie sheet with nonstick spray (I used coconut oil).
4. Remove potatoes from microwave and stir well. Then turn mixture onto prepared cookie sheet, being sure to distribute evenly on sheet.
5. Bake potatoes in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until desired crispiness.

Salty, Crispy and Soft in the Middle - These Potatoes Are Guaranteed to Chase Away Any Potato Chip Cravings You May Be Experiencing

Salty, Crispy and Soft in the Middle – These Potatoes Are Guaranteed to Chase Away Any Potato Chip Cravings You May Be Experiencing


Makes 4-5 servings.
NOTE: These also make great hash browns!

Wisdom of the Day:
This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24 (NASB)
Read more here.

WHOLE30 Day #2 – Busted!

So our WHOLE30 adventure continues. I’m embarrassed to admit that it only took 2 days to reveal some rather ugly aspects of my character. I woke up to the baby crying and fantasies of chemical-laced coffee creamer and artificial sweetener. So I “generously” offered to let Hubs sleep in while I got up to take care of our baby. Even as I prepped her bottle, I knew what I was going to do and planned to very quietly retrieve the sweeteners out of the corner of the pantry where I’d hidden them just days before.

A few minutes later, Baby Girl changed, fed, burped and happy, I sprung into action. I brewed up my coffee and stirred in that delicious white “creamer” powder full of mystery and unpronounceable chemicals. Yum! I paused. “Hmm, better at least try to use fewer packets of sweetener. I’ll go with half.” I then experienced momentary guilt for cheating on our commitment, but I tell myself Hubs will understand. Didn’t he describe black coffee with no creamer and no sweetener as “like drinking a cup of fresh brewed hatred”? Yeah, he’d understand. Besides, he won’t know.

I’d just sat and taken my first sip when Hubs came out of the bedroom. He took one look at my cup and launched into a lecture about all the reasons we chose to do the WHOLE30; how we want to be healthier for our daughter; how the current discomfort is only temporary and will result in long term benefits. He reminded me of all the things we had discussed before we decided to take this journey. And I felt guilty. But I also felt uncertain. Perhaps I was never really committed to this process; otherwise I would not have kept those items so readily accessible. This reminded me of the scripture below. As a result of this lesson, I’ve had to rethink my commitment. I’ve also realized that we need to be willing to totally dispense with those items or habits we wish to get rid of. It’s not enough to kind of commit to stopping while still permitting easy access to those things, while still keeping them around. Too bad for me it took a little shaming to learn that lesson.

“…and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”
~Romans 13:14 (NASB)
Read more here.

WHOLE30 Meal of the Day (dinner)
Simple Roasted Chicken with Caribbean Roasted Root Veggies & Salad

Recommended Resources:
Functional Dad
MUTU System to Lose Your Mummy Tummy

WHOLE30 Day#1 – What Was I Thinking?

It’s 7:30 on a Friday, and I’m not happy. I have a splitting headache, a pretty wicked case of PMS (or whatever it’s called when your period has actually started) as well as a really weird taste in my mouth, and I’m not all that interested in dinner.

Ordinarily, this is my favorite day of the week. Hubs comes home early from work and helps with baby care. We have “breakfast for dinner,” and we watch a movie. The weekend stretches out before us with the promise of extra sleep and free time as a family. But tonight it’s different because Hubs and I have undertaken the WHOLE30 challenge for the month of April 2016. Neither one of us is in a very good mood, and neither one of us is terribly excited about breakfast for dinner without buttery toast with jelly or pancakes. We’re both having cravings. Hubs is seriously craving sugar. I’m seriously craving artificial sweeteners which I’ll admit to having consumed in ever-increasing quantities over the years – sprinkling those little packets over everything from coffee to fruit to salad (Don’t judge! A little Stevia mixed with dijon makes a mighty fine low-cal honey mustard dressing, but I digress). I’m also yearning for my beloved sugar-free “tropical” flavored popsicles with their neon (artificial) colors and bizarrely satisfying chemically concocted tartness.

As I sit here, pondering my suffering and feeling terribly sorry for myself I happen to glance at my daughter happily playing beside me in her little infant chair. She giggles spontaneously as she tosses her beloved butterfly toy and it makes a noise that delights her. Suddenly, I am reminded by my daughter’s laughter as to why we committed to the WHOLE30, what we were thinking in the first place. We wanted to invest 30 days of effort and discomfort in order to feel better in the long run, in order to build ourselves up and equip ourselves for the long haul of parents. That’s my motivation. That is my intention. I want to be a healthier, more energetic mother. I am willing to do without some things for 30 days. I am willing to do the work to prune away the bad habits and unhealthy junk that I’ve accumulated in order to become a better mom in the long term.

The wise woman builds her house. But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.
~ Proverbs 14:1 (NASB)
Read more here.

For more information on the WHOLE30 plan, check out this link: The WHOLE30

Recommended Resource:
Daily Audio Bible

Weeknight Pasta Salad Entree

The final product

Ever find yourself wandering around the kitchen at 5:30PM (or later) with absolutely no idea what to have for dinner? I was in that situation last night. To make matters worse, the weather here was pretty frightful, and I had no intention of braving the cold to make a grocery store run. Fortunately, I was able to throw something together using a few pantry and fridge staples. And the result received rave reviews. The ingredients below are probably hanging around your kitchen too. Consider this recipe your ace in the hole for those nights when you’re wandering aimlessly around your own kitchen in desperate need of a last-minute meal idea. P.S. it tastes even better the next day!

INGREDIENTS:
¼ cup raisins
4 stalks celery, chopped
¼ cup sweet pickle relish
¼ cup mayonnaise of choice (I like Nayonaise brand)
Pinch tarragon (optional but really tasty)
1/8 tsp. white pepper
Salt if needed

6 oz. gluten-free pasta, cooked and drained (I used Ancient Harvest brand elbows)
Cooked protein of choice (chopped chicken breast; chopped Gardein “chicken” strips; chick peas; etc.)

2 small apples, chopped (I prefer to leave my apples unpeeled for max nutritional benefit)
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
½ cup chopped walnuts
IMG_0244

PROCESS:
1. Stir together the first 6 ingredients in a large bowl while cooking pasta.
2. Immediately add drained pasta to raisin mixture and stir to combine.
3. Next fold in protein choice and taste for season. Add salt and pepper if desired.
4. Just before serving, chop apples and toss with lemon juice. Fold into salad and stir well to combine.
5. Top salad with walnuts and serve.

NOTES:
May also be served warm.
Goes well with butternut squash or other soup, cooked green veggies or tossed salad.
Finally, if you discover that apples are not among your kitchen staples and you need a reason to start buying them, check out these articles for a
little apple motivation:
An Apple a Day….
15 Health Benefits of Apples
The Health Benefits of an Apple

Top 10 Aging Accelerators

When it comes to aging healthfully and beautiful, it’s all about controlling the controllables. Review this quick list of the most aging habits. I’ll bet you find at least one habit that hits close to home. For me, that’s habits #6, 8 listed below. In fairness, it’s pretty easy to convince yourself that you are or would classified as “an active person” when you work out a few times per week. But working out 4 or 5 times per week and spend the remainder of your time sitting or reclining, you do NOT qualify as an active person. I was not active. Even now, I usually vacillate somewhere between sedentary and lightly active. I don’t have an active job or do heavy labor like a construction worker or an environmental services worker.

Bad Habits that Are Aging You

1. You’re a Couch Potato – Sure, sometimes you can’t make it to the gym. But if you find excuses to avoid exercise on a regular basis, you’re sure to add years to your RealAge. “Burning less than 500 calories a day through some sort of exercise makes your risk for death from any cause extraordinarily high,” says Keith Roach, MD, Sharecare’s chief medical officer. Getting little to no exercise directly increases the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other health problems. The good news: You’re never too old or out of shape to start exercising. One way to get started: Walk 10 minutes a day and gradually build up to 10,000 steps.

2. You Overdo Happy Hour – According to Dr. Roach, there is an association between moderate alcohol consumption and decreased risk of heart disease. But downing more than two drinks daily (for men; more than one drink for women) puts pressure on your vital organs and can cause health problems like liver disease, high blood pressure and weight gain. Binge drinking (more than four or five drinks at a time) is even worse. If you don’t drink, there’s no need to start. “You’re not giving things up by not being a drinker,” says Roach. “And you’re avoiding problems of excess alcohol, which are much greater than the potential benefits.”

3. You Eat Like You’re Still in College – If burgers, pizza and ice cream are a regular part of your diet, you’re headed for major agers like high cholesterol or high blood pressure. That’s because saturated and trans fats raise LDL cholesterol – the “bad” kind that builds up in arteries, blocking blood flow, damaging blood vessels and causing inflammation. Do your heart a favor by chowing down on more lean protein (like chicken or fish), fruits and veggies. MyPlate recommends that most people get four to five cups of fruits and veggies a day. And don’t forget the whole grains. A diet rich in whole grains can help you avoid diabetes, heart disease and gum disease – not to mention belly fat.

4. You Light Up – We probably don’t have to tell you that smoking cigarettes is one of the worst things you can do for your health. “Smoking has a detrimental effect on almost every cell in the body,” says Mehmet Oz, MD. Smoking increases your risk for heart disease and stroke, as well as lung, blood, bladder, esophageal, kidney, mouth, throat, stomach and uterine cancer. The good news: The health benefits of quitting smoking are almost immediate. Within just 20 minutes after quitting the American Cancer Society says your heart rate and blood pressure drop. As more time goes by you also lower your risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.

5. You Stress Over Everything – We all get stressed out from time to time. But if your stress level is through the roof on a regular basis, — whether from work, family problems or financial troubles — you can bet your health will take a serious hit. Memory loss, high blood pressure, weight gain and a weakened immune system are just some of the ways your body responds to high, chronic stress. Your skin suffers, too. Stress causes free radicals to run wild, breaking down collagen and creating wrinkles. The solution: Find ways to stress less. Regular exercise and relaxing with yoga or meditation can help. But if you find it’s not enough, you may want to consult with a professional counselor.

6. You Sit More than You Stand – Long hours with your butt planted on a chair at work and later on the couch at home can add up to big health problems. Research has linked prolonged sitting to cancer, obesity and type 2 diabetes. Spending time on your bum also negatively affects your blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure and appetite hormone leptin, all of which are biomarkers for obesity and cardiovascular disease. Unfortunately, moderate exercise to counteract the effects of sitting all day long doesn’t work. Even if you spend an hour a day exercising, spending just five to six hours a day sitting with few to no breaks may be as bad as smoking an entire pack of cigarettes.

7. You’re UN-happily Married – Wedded bliss can keep you happy and healthy, including lowering your risk of heart disease, cancer and high blood pressure. “It likely has to do with less stress, from the emotional support of a partner to sharing affection and intimacy,” says Roach. But a marriage on the rocks can send stress levels sky high. Who suffers most? A study reported in the journal Health Psychology found that women in unsatisfying marriages have higher blood pressure, cholesterol and BMI. Plus, they suffer more from depression, anxiety and anger.

8. You Mainly See Your Friends Online – You may have a lot of Facebook friends, but if you don’t have close friends or family to connect with in real life, your RealAge will suffer. Not having people to turn to in times of trouble has been associated with poor health. “The worst thing is to feel alone with no one to talk to,” says Roach. On the other hand, a strong social network nurtured by face time with family and friends has been shown to boost your mood, improve your ability to cope with adversity and can strengthen your immune system. If your circle of friends is lacking, consider ways to forge new connections, whether it’s volunteering in your community, joining a book club or teaming up with a group of walkers.

9. You Skimp on Sleep – Are you a chronic sleep skipper? If you get less than six to nine hours a night, your body will let you know it’s not a happy camper. For starters, it throws off your appetite-regulating hormones in ways that make you eat more and gain weight. It’s also been linked to heart disease and stroke. Too little sleep doesn’t do your noggin any favors, either. General brain fog means you’re more forgetful, less alert and apt to make poor decisions.

10. You Neglect Your Smile – Brushing and flossing may not be your favorite activities, but showing your teeth regular love is a RealAge must! Neglecting your pearly whites can lead to gum disease and tooth loss, factors that can lead to inflammation. “Chemicals, bacteria and inflammation in your mouth can predispose you to developing heart disease,” says Roach. Good oral care (brushing and flossing daily and getting regular dental checkups) can boost health – and keep your smile bright.

Grain-free Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookie Bars

Grain-free Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookie Bars

The finished cookie bar (yummy)

This recipe evolved out of my 2016 New Year’s resolution to decrease our consumption of processed grains, flour and sugar. But just because I’m trying to eat healthier carbs does NOT mean I’m willing to stop eating cookies! I strongly recommend you check out the brilliant recipe blog Chocolate Covered Katie . Katie’s recipes are fun and delicious. Her Sugar Free Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie inspired this recipe.

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 pitted dates
2/3 cup dried plums

2 cans organic garbanzo beans (about 3 cups), drained and rinsed very well
6 oz. unsweetened coconut flakes (about 3/4 cup)
1 cup liquid egg whites
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce (preferably organic)
4 tsp. Stevia in the Raw (optional)
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup good quality miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips (at least 70% chocolate)

PROCEDURE:
1. Begin by placing dates and dried plums in a bowl and covering with filtered water. Soak for at least 2 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray 9X13″ pan with nonstick spray (I like nonstick coconut oil spray)
3. Drain water from dried fruits but reserve at least 2 Tbsp. of soaking liquid. Drain garbanzo beans and rinse very well.
4. Place soaked fruits, beans, applesauce, egg whites and 2 Tbsp. soaking liquid in food processor. Pulse on low speed until roughly smooth and combined.
5. Add the next 4 ingredients and process again on low until very smooth.
6. Scoop the mixture into prepared pan then sprinkle the chocolate chips over top the mixture. Gentle stir to spread the ships throughout the batter. Spread the
batter evening throughout pan and place in middle of preheated oven.
7. Bake for about 20 minutes or until edges are browned and middle is set. Allow to cool before cutting.

NUTRITION CONTENT
(per bar, 1/20 recipe)
Calories: 136 calories
Fat: 5 grams fat
Fiber: 3.7 grams fiber
Digestible Carbs: 17.6 grams
Sodium: 263 mg. sodium
Protein: 4.24 grams protein

(Recipe Total)
Calories: 2719
Fat: 100.8 grams
Fiber: 73.4 grams
Digestible Carbs: 351.5 grams
Sodium: 5,261.8 mg
Protein: 84.7 grams

Wishing you and your family a beautifully wise 2016!

Wishing you and your family a beautifully wise 2016!

5 Morning Habits for Happier, Healthier Days & Nights

5 Habits for a Healthier You

Habit #1: Mark Your Wakeup Time to Determine Your Bedtime
All healthy adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. Do not kid yourself into believing you need less than 7 hours. I personally need 8.5 hours or I feel really crappy the next day. That doesn’t make me weak or less of a person. It just means I have to plan to get sufficient shut-eye in order to be productive, especially with a newborn in the house. If you’re getting less than 7 hours sleep now or you just feel tired all the time, here’s how you begin:
determine when you absolutely must wakeup. Count backwards 7 hours from that time and go to bed at that time. If you must, DVR your fav TV programs that you’ll miss in order to go to bed earlier. Trust me. You will enjoy them more binge-watching anyway. If you still feel tired, go to bed 15-30 minutes earlier each night until you feel refreshed. That’s the amount of sleep you need per night.

Habit #2: Coffee, Glorious Coffee – Okay to me, this is a no-brainer. I’ve been drinking coffee since I was 16 years-old. Thank God for all the recent research touting Coffee’s health benefits(since I plan to keep right on drinking it). Of course, green tea is even healthier if you happen to be so inclined. Me, I’ll stick with my beloved java.

Habit #3: A Breath of Fresh Air – Consider a short (3-5 minute) walk first thing in the morning while you coffee brews (or while that Keurig warms up). Enjoy your cup of coffee onto the porch, patio or balcony (or if you read ahead, you’ll see that taking a quick walk outside while your coffee brews is the best plan).

Habit #4: Get Some AM Physical Activity
Probably the best thing you can do in the morning is take a short walk outside. If you happen to have dogs, they will definitely appreciate a a quick AM stroll.
If at all possible, walk with another person, especially if it’s dark in the mornings where you live. Here are a few more tips to keep you walking safely: Safe Walking Tips

I find it’s easiest to squeeze in a few short bouts of exercise (especially strength training) spread throughout the day. There are a few things that are easily completed before breakfast or before that first cup of coffee. For me, the most effective strategy is to try to do 3 bursts before leaving the bathroom area in the morning (oh c’mon! I know your first out-of-bed pitstop in the morning is the bathroom).
Here are a few of my favorite quick strength bursts that can be accomplished standing in front of the bathroom sink:
– 50 Squats
– 10-25 Biceps Curls (stash some free weights under your sink or on a shelf in the linen closet)
– 10-25 Military Press or Clean-and-Press. Here’s a how-to video:

– 10-25 Overhead Triceps Extension with Free Weights. Video link:


Be sure to keep those elbows close to your head and tighten your core muscles to support your tummy and back!

– 25 Lunges per Leg
– 25 Reverse Lunges per Leg
– 10-50 Push-ups (if doing modified “knee” push-ups, be sure to put those knees on a bath mat or rug for support)

Habit #5: Eat Some Walnuts
Here are a few yummy recipes using walnuts:
Raw Date + Nut Balls (gluten-free, vegan, raw)
No-bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie Bars (vegan, gluten-free)
Crunchy Walnut-crusted Salmon (paleo, gluten-free)
Fresh Broccoli & Apple Salad with Walnuts (just plain yummy!)

The Perfect Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie

Perfect Chocolate PB Protein Shake

Is there anything better than chocolate and peanut butter together? I recently re-discovered the wonders of PB2 peanut butter powder PB2. It’s so delicious and can be used in a multitude of applications. My favorite is an ingredient in protein shakes, but I’ve have success using it to replace full-fat peanut butter or tahini in savory sauces (Peanut Sauce or Reduced Fat Hummus, etc.). It’s great stirred into oatmeal or sprinkled on sliced fruit. And the nutritional profile cannot be topped. Only 45 calories for 2 Tbsp. (versus about 200 calories in 2 Tbsp. of traditional PB), with only 1 gram of fat and 10 fat calories per serving and no added sugar; 4 grams protein and only 5 grams net carbohydrates. Pretty awesome huh? Give the recipe below a try and experiment with the PB2 in other recipes as well. I look forward to hearing how you like it.

Ingredients

Ingredients:
• 1 scoop SUNWARRIOR Warrior Protein Powder (vanilla flavor)
• 1 Tbsp. whole flax or chia seeds
• 2/3 cup unsweetened almond of cashew milk
• 1 ½ cup still loosely packed raw spinach
• 2 Tbsp. Unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1.5 – 2 Tbsp. PB2 powdered peanut butter product
• ¼ tsp. vanilla extract
• 6-10 ice cubes (I used 8)
• Stevia to taste

Process:
Put ice cubes, frozen spinach and milk into blender jar first. Add all remaining ingredients. Blend well until smooth and with no chunks of green, etc. Pour into a sealable jars (e.g. Mason jars), cover and freeze for 15-30 minutes (I like extra thick shakes, so I freeze mine 30-45 minutes) or drink immediately. Serves 1.

I end up with two of these:

IMG_0285

Nutritional Breakdown Per Recipe:
Calories – 206 Calories from Fat – 82
Total Fat – 9.1g Transfats – 0g
Net Carbohydrates – 8.3g Fiber – 9.7g
Protein – 24.2g Sodium – 623mg

Quick Hitter of the Day – Love This, Try That

Cream Eyeshadow Switch Out

I love cream eyeshadows. They really work well on my dry skin. And, for some reason I seem to be able to create prettier looks and to blend and smooth the colors better when using my fingertips. Guess my brush application techniques need some work. The current crop of cream/gel shadows offers some tremendous choices in all price ranges.

One of my all-time favorite cream shadows is MAKE UP FOREVER’s Aqua Cream. This is the first such shadow I ever tried. The Taupe color is among the most gorgeous neutral shades I’ve ever encountered. It works create for a single, all-over look and is flattering on most if not all skin tones.

Taupe

Taupe

MUF’s Taupe Aqua Cream

Alas, this favorite is fairly pricey at $23 for 0.21oz. And, surprisingly, it’s kinda hard to find – often sold out online and in Sephora stores. (I say surprisingly because Sephora owns MUF’s line and should, to my mind, be able to keep their products in stock. But I digress….).

Enter today’s standout duplicate – Maybelline EYESTUDIO Color Tattoo 24HR Cream Gel Shadow in “Bad to the Bronze.” What an awesome drugstore product! Nearly identical cushy, squishy texture as the MUF product and the same sheer-out capabilities. Neither product tends to migrate under eyes or to crease, especially when applied over a standard shadow primer. And neither the Maybelline nor the MUF offerings include too much glitter, trending more toward a flattering shimmer versus disco sparkle.

Color = Bad to the Bronze

Color = Bad to the Bronze

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24HR Cream Gel Shadow

Incidentally, the Color Tattoo comes with 0.14oz. of product (roughly 2/3 the amount you get from the MUF product) and retails for $5.29 at both Target and Wal-Mart. CVS, Walgreens and ULTA currently list product prices at $6.99 each. And all of the retailers often offer buy one, get one 50% off Maybelline products (basically resulting in a 25% discount on each if you buy two products at once for a cost of roughly $5.24 each). That means, if you purchase two Color Tattoo shadows at once, you’d get about 1 & 1/3 the amount of product at a savings of $12.50. Keep in mind too that buying in this way may actually result in better product performance because these types of shadows tend to dry up with usage and exposure to air. So having a new and unopened pot of shadow can actually mean longer product life than if you had a larger pot of 0.28oz. I’ve actually experienced that drying with the MUF product but never with Maybelline’s version. I believe that’s why.

Hope you find this helpful. Happy finger painting!

KarenHD

Winning Brunch Casserole – Restyled for Health and Savings

I love brunch foods. I love egg casseroles or pies. And (right now at least) I love a warm savory, cheesy dish and a nap afterwards.
This recipes hits all the right notes for me tasty, even rich without being so heavy as to prevent me from taking the all-important
afternoon pregnancy siesta! Hope you enjoy this restyle and wish you pleasant napping afterward….

Cheesy Hash Brown Pie
20 minutes Prep Time
Serves 8

Ingredients
• 2 cups Simply Potatoes® Shredded Hash Browns
• 1/2 pound ground Italian sausage
• 1 small zucchini, cut in half crosswise, thinly sliced lengthwise
• 1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 1 cup (8 oz.) AllWhites® egg whites
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 cup Crystal Farms® Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Instructions
1. Heat oven to 375° F. Butter bottom and sides of 9-inch glass pie plate. Firmly press Simply Potatoes® on bottom and sides of pie plate.
2. Bake 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, cook Italian sausage in 10-inch skillet until browned. Drain fat. Combine cooked sausage, zucchini, red pepper, All Whites, milk and mustard in large bowl; mix well.
4. Pour AllWhites; mixture into crust.
5. Return to oven and bake 30 to 35 minutes or until center is set. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 3 to 5 minutes more (until cheese is melted).

Nutritional Info: Nutritional Info: 188 Calories 13g Protein

Source: http://www.allwhiteseggwhites.com/recipes/cheesy-hash-brown-pie/

KG’s Hash Brown Brunch Casserole
1 hour prep/cook time
Yield: About 8 large or 12 smaller servings

This recipe revision uses healthier ingredients, several of which are cheaper than those ingredients used in version above. What you lose in prep time, you will more than make up in delicious

Ingredients
• 20 oz. unpeeled red potatoes, diced or shredded
• 1/2 package Gimme Lean vegan sausage (about 7 oz.)
• 1 large zucchini, cut in half crosswise, thinly sliced lengthwise
• 1/4 cup chopped sweet onion (e.g. Vidalia)
• 1 + 1/3 cups egg whites, about 10 extra large or 12 large egg whites
• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp. salt, divided
• ¼ tsp. each black pepper and garlic powder
• 1 + 1/3 cups shredded vegan cheese (I used Daiya brand vegan cheese – 2/3 cup cheddar + 2/3 cup mozzarella
• Dash pepper sauce + sprinkle of paprika if desired

Instructions
1. Using a kitchen scale, weigh out 20 ounces of red potatoes. We used about five medium-sized red potatoes.

Weigh out the potatoes

Weigh out the potatoes

2. Wash and chop potatoes. If you have a spiralizer or food processer with shredding attachment, that makes this step a LOT easier. Chop onion.
Spiralized Potatoes
3. While prepping potatoes and onion, preheat your oven to 400° F. Butter bottom and sides of cast iron skillet and place the skillet in hot oven for about 5 minutes to heat. Firmly press Simply Potatoes® on bottom and sides of pie plate.
4. Remove skillet from oven. Place potatoes into pan, press down slightly and sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. salt and pepper.
5. Bake potatoes in oven for about 30 minutes. While potatoes cook, chop zucchini and set aside.
6. In a large bowl, combine sausage, dijon mustard and milk in a large mixing bowl. Using a potato masher, break up the sausage into small pieces.
7. Add egg whites to milk/sausage mixture. Stir in salt, hot sauce, mix well.
8. Remove potatoes mixture from oven. Top with vegetables, and pour egg whites mixture over all. Shake pan gently to ensure even distribution.
Egg whites on potato crust
9. Return to oven and bake 30 to 35 minutes or until center is set.
10. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Yummy!

Yummy!

KG’s Notes:
We used a 12” cast iron skillet for this recipe.
Also, I microwaved the chopped onion before adding to pan just because I thoroughly cooked onions.
Healthier ingredients in the revised version include: Gimme Lean versus pork sausage; Almond milk versus cow’s milk (for more on why this is a healthier option, click here: ); vegan cheese instead of dairy cheese; we also used extra egg whites which are a lean source of pure protein.
Cost savings ingredients/processes: Switching from pre-prepped hash brown potatoes to whole potatoes which require more prep work but are FAR cheaper per ounce. Separating whites from whole eggs versus cartoned egg whites. Vegan sausage is usually cheaper and as readily available as pork sausage. Save even more by switching from Gimme Lean to lightly smashed cooked beans or lentils.

Page 10 of 11« First...7891011